[ooyala code="trdXgwMTE6aB91hGM8dwiy7pjq-SRvBn" player_id="d5b993422b3e4b5ebd61f9e19ca2a6a5" width="1920" height="1080" auto="true"] Melbourne United’s Hakim Warrick is the winner of the 2015-16 NBL Best Sixth Man Award as the league's best player in a reserve role, the NBL announced today. Warrick becomes the first Melbourne United player to win the award, since the club rebranded two years ago. The high-flying import was proud to have been recognised for his efforts this season. “This is pretty cool,” Warrick said. “This is a role that I’ve embraced for most of my career so it’s cool to final y get some accolades for it.” To be eligible for the Best Sixth Man Award, players had to have come off the bench in more games than they started. Each club nominated one player for the Award with the Head Coach, one Assistant Coach and the Team Captain then voting in a 3-2-1 format (3 votes being indicative of the most deserving). Voters were not allowed to vote for players from their own team. Warrick, who played eight seasons in the NBA before joining the NBL, received a total of 48 votes to win the Award. Rounding out the top three in the voting were the Cairns Taipans’ Torrey Craig (35 votes) and the Adelaide 36ers’ Ebi Ere (16 votes). The 206cm forward came off the bench in almost all of his 21 appearances with United, averaging 21.6 minutes on the floor as well as 13.5 points and 5.6 rebounds. He scored in double-figures in 17 games and recorded two double-doubles. Brought in to replace Ekene Ibekwe less than three weeks before Melbourne’s season opener, Warrick quickly assimilated into the United line-up and established an effective role off the bench. It’s a role he is accustomed to, having played as a reserve for 423 of his 532 games in the NBA. “I know it threw a lot of people off, me being an NBA player and then coming over here and coming off the bench, but most of my NBA career was off the bench so it’s a role that I’m comfortable with,” Warrick said. After helping Melbourne to a 5-0 start to the season, Warrick was forced to miss 6 games during November after suffering a groin injury. Once back on the floor, the 33-year-old provided Melbourne with a genuine low post presence and an exciting target out of the high pick-and-roll. Warrick said he is excited about providing his team with impact play off the bench during the Finals. “I’ve had a long career but I haven’t really had a chance to win a championship since college. It’s been a long time,” Warrick said. “I’m really looking forward to this opportunity.”   All-Time NBL Best Sixth Man Award 1996 – Mike McKay, Brisbane Bullets 1997 – Ben Pepper, Newcastle Falcons 1998 – Jason Smith, South East Melbourne Magic 1999 – Bruce Bolden, West Sydney Razorbacks 2000 – Ben Knight, Townsville Crocodiles 2001 – Chris Anstey, Victoria Titans 2002 – Jamahl Mosely, Victoria Titans 2003 – Stephen Black, Perth Wildcats 2004 – Darryl McDonald, Melbourne Tigers 2005 – Brad Newley, Townsville Crocodiles 2006 – Stephen Hoare, Melbourne Tigers 2007 – Stephen Hoare, Melbourne Tigers 2008 – Dontaye Draper, Sydney Kings 2009 – Phill Jones, New Zealand Breakers 2010 – Erron Maxey, Gold Coast Blaze 2011 – Kevin Braswell, New Zealand Breakers 2012 – Jesse Wagstaff, Perth Wildcats 2013 – Adris Deleon, Wollongong Hawks 2014 – Kevin Tiggs, Wollongong Hawks 2015 – Cameron Tragardh, Cairns Taipans 2016 – Hakim Warrick, Melbourne United